Standardisation on the agenda of the Committee for Internal Market and Consumer Protection on 23 June and 13 July 2010.

On 23 June, IMCO hosted many experts and stakeholders, together with Commissioner Tajani, in a public hearing held in view of the drafting of an own initiative report on the future of European standardisation. The first part of the hearing focused on the challenges faced by the European standardisation in a globalised world. The second part focused on standardisation as a tool to support public and societal interests. The third part focused on the strategic importance of standardisation for EU competitiveness.

The rapporteur, Mr Edvard Kozusnik, emphasised the importance of standardisation as a tool to develop the internal market, increase European competitiveness, facilitate world trade and support the increasing needs of European legislation and policies.

Vice-President Antonio Tajani commended the European standardisation model and gave an overview of the agreement with the Parliament by the end of the year. Finally he called for negotiations to be opened for a first reading agreement on the late payments proposal.

Members addressed the main concerns regarding the effective implementation of existing internal market rules, as on services, professional qualifications, transferability of the phone number and roaming costs. They also commented on the state of play of the ongoing legislative procedures, such as late payments, textiles, metrology, construction products or cross-border healthcare. The need to support SMEs was also underlined by many members.

During the exchange of views which followed on 13 July, broad consent was shown with the current stage of the Kozusnik report.

-13 September 2010: Distribution of the report/ continuation of discussion in IMCO.

-14 September 2010: Deadline for tabling amendments.

-29 September 2010: last discussion in IMCO.

-30 September: probably vote in EP plenary.

Further steps for the European Commission:

The Commission plans to revise the current regulatory frame-work building on the successes of the existing system.

- Submission of a "Standardisation package'' in December 2010 which will consist of a legislative proposal replacing the three existing legal acts governing European standardisation and an umbrella Communication which will set standardisation policy for the next decade.